LETTER | How did convicted felon become a sensation in Malacca election?

LETTER | How did a convicted felon become a sensation in the Malacca election campaign? How a political coalition stacked with humongous corruption allegations and court proceedings won the hearts of voters is mind-blowing.

It took the country some six decades to finally have the BN coalition pay for its sins of omission, commission, and graft by booting them out of government in 2018.

But even the wretched pain of having the people’s mandate for a Pakatan Harapan coalition to govern the nation cruelly sabotaged and driven out into the cold did not register voters’ excruciating anger in the Malacca polls outcome.

Is something very wrong in the psyche of the Malaysian mindset?

Various explanations have been postulated by various quarters. But one truth we cannot miss is, it looks very incomprehensible why Malaysians are unable to put up a tornado of resistance to the plundering of the wealth of this nation by resolutely demanding a government that works for all citizens and the long-term good of the nation.

We think we need new blood. Or we think no one party is better off. And it seems like we are largely inert in reforming a nation that is into a fast fall economically, socially, and even environmentally as the politics of the nation bulldozes ahead at full throttle.

Racing far ahead

When you take stock of developments around the world and even in the Asean region, you cannot deny that their citizens are taking the bull by the horns in ensuring that good governance and accountability take the lead in nation- building and in sharing of the wealth of their respective nations.

And the rewards for those nations that are committed to serious reforms are so obvious. Even our neighbours that were lagging so far behind us 30 years ago are racing far ahead of Malaysia economically and with their people succeeding socially.

Sooner than we would have imagined, the prospect of the 15th general election will be here. We have to ask ourselves, will that day seal the future of this plundered nation for the better or for the worse or will we continue being stuck in a yo-yo state?

In this age of mobile communication where social media in its myriad forms is in the palms of even citizens in the most remote village, it is ridiculous to think that people are not aware of all that is going wrong in the country.

The Malacca polls run-up chocked social media with an unimagined load of political sins – from tacking RM50 notes to nasi lemak packs to heavenly promises. True or fake, it did not bite going by the BN win at the stakes.

Today we can soundly arrive at one conclusion. Politically, we are the most backward nation in the region. Even Myanmar that has been entangled in a military coup d’état since 2021 showcases a hardened will to fight for justice, while Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia are holding their errant crooks by the ears and racing ahead with positive reforms.

Bitter stories

Even Thailand that venerates the monarchy and suffers the prospect of severe punishment for disrespect to the king is questioning and criticising all in the name of accountability and for the wealth of the nation to be shared by all citizens.

Something is not working in Malaysia. What is it? Why are Malaysians seemingly so divided in the war against corruption? Why are we so split right in the middle in deciding how and who should lead the nation for the benefit of king, citizens, and country?

Who does not know that BN – Umno in particular – is not rich with six decades of oil money, rent-seeking, etc?

Who does not know the mega-scale of individuals who have had their hands and fingers in the cookie jar of the 1MDB?

Who does not know about the murder of the Mongolian national Altantuya?

Who does not know that just six months into a Covid-19 pandemic, the government had to confess that it did not have the money to bring substantive relief for citizens so much so that we had to hoist white flags for basic food from NGOs?

Who does not know that many citizens had to withdraw their own endowment savings to live during the pandemic?

But despite all these and many more bitter stories and life experiences that could fill volumes, we do not seem to have the resolute will to reset this nation. Why?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.